Dispenser pump



Jan. 13, 1942. 1. s. NIELSEN DISPENSER PUMP Filed April 15. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. y ;& 972294962 4 ATTORNEYJ Jan. 13, 1942. 1, B, NELSEN 2,269,857

DISPENSER PUMP ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 13, 1942 DISPENSER PUMP Iver B. Nielsen, Bryan, Qhio, assignor to The Arc Equipment Corporation, Bryan, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 15 1940, Serial No. 329,820

15 Claims. (Cl. 103-52) My present invention relates to a dispenser pump for lubricant or other fluid wherein fluid pressure is utilized as the operating agency and a simple aspirator mechanism is provided for causing movement of a piston in the pump cylinder either in an intake or a discharge direction, as desired.

One object of the invention is to provide a pump of the general character above mentioned which is comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and economical to operate.

Heretofore fluid pressure operated pumps have been provided in the form of a pump mechanism having its pump piston and a power mechanism having its power piston, the power piston being driven in one or both directions by fluid pressure such as compressed air, or driven in one direction by the fluid pressure and in a return direction by a spring or the like. Complicated valve arrangements must be provided in this type of power device to control the fluid pressure so that the power piston and thereby the pump piston move either a single stroke or repeated strokes.

My present invention contemplates as one of its objects, the provision of a much simpler type of dispensing pump for dispensing fluids such as lubricant or the like, wherein a single cylinder serves both as a pump cylinder and a power cylinder and a single piston serves both as a fluid pump and power piston, an aspirator being arranged in communication with one end of the cylinder while the other end serves as'a fluid receptor and the piston being floating or free of any mechanical connection to a power device and serving to separate the aspirator space from the fluid space.

Another object is to provide an aspirator so designed and arranged that it can create a suction to draw the piston upwardly or a pressure to force it downwardly.

A further object is to provide a control valv in the exhaust passageway of the aspirator which can be opened so that the aspirator operates in its aspirating capacity, or closed so that the fluid pressure such as compressed air for operating the aspirator is diverted to thepump cylinder, thereby creating a pressure in it to move the iston in a downward direction.

Still a further object is to provide the valve either manually, semi-automatically or automatically operable as a result of movement of the piston to its opposite limits of movement.

Still another object is to provide a simple arrangement for conducting fluid from the lower end of a pump cylinder depending into a cont'ainer of lubricant to the upper or head end thereof, which consists of providing a second and larger cylinder, the larger cylinder being used to support an intake check valve in a cap positioned on the lower end of the larger cylinder.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and one modification thereof. These drawings are not intended to be exhaustive and are not to be taken as limiting of the invention, but on the contrary are chosen with a view to illustrating my invention so that others skilled in the art may apply it under varying conditions of practical use and may make such modifications and changes therein as such conditions may make desirable. In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a dispenser pump embodying my invention and showing it associated with a drum of fluid, the pump in this figure being of a semi-automatic type;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the pump omitting a mounting plate therefor;

Figure 3 is 'a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 1, showing a full automatic type of pump.

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference character D to indicate a drum of fluid, C a cover therefor and P is used to indicate in general my dispenser pump. The pump P includes a head fitting H from which depends a pump cylinder Ill. The head fitting H is mounted as by cap screws 42 on the cover plate C. Within the cylinder I0 is a piston P including a pair of cup leathers l3 and I4, and associated therewith are a central disc IS, a pair of end discs I6 and a pair of cupped washers ll held in position by cap screws 18 and I9. The piston P is free of any mechanical connection to a power device and operates to displace fluid 4 on one side thereof by means of alternate changes in fluid pressure on the other side. Such alternate changes of fluid pressure are respectively above and below atmospheric pressure.

Also depending from the head H is a second cylinder 20 slightly larger than the pump cylinder l0 and having a cap 2| on its lower end. A valve seat 22 is formed in the cap 2| and an intake check valve 23 is normally seated thereon. A float 24 carried by an arm 25 and pivoted at 26 is adapted to open the check valve 23 when the fluid 21 in the drum D is substantially pumped out to thereby prevent air being taken into the fluid pump. The float 24 forms no part of my:

present invention, as it is disclosed in Hartman Patent No. 1,943,604, issued January 16, 1934, and owned by the assignee of this patent.

Within the head H an annular passageway 28 and a pair of other passageways 29 and 30 all communicate with each other, and the passageway 28 communicates with the space indicated at 3| between the pump cylinder I8 and the second cylinder 26. Between the passageways 29 and 30, an outlet check valve 32 is mounted. The outlet passageway 30 is adapted to receive one end of a fluid discharge hose 33, as shown in Figure 4, which extends to the usual valved control nozzle.

I provide an aspirator A comprising a Venturi fitting 34 located in a fitting 35 which in turn is mounted on the head H as by cap screws 36. The Venturi fitting 34 has a Venturi passageway 31. A Venturi nozzle 38 is directed toward the passageway 37. The interior of the fitting 35 is connected by a passageway 39 with a passageway 40 in the head H. The passageway 4|] in turn communicates with the pump cylinder l above the piston P.

The Venturi nozzle 38 is mounted in a passageway 4| of the fitting 35, which in turn communicates with a fluid pressure nipple 42 through the medium of a coupler tube 43 and appropriate fittings. The nipple 42 is supported by an extension 44 of the head H. The nipple 42 is adapted to be connected with a fluid pressure or compressed air hose 45 as by a coupler 46a, as shown in Figure 4.

The Venturi passageway 31 discharges fluid pressure into a passageway 46 of the head H, which in turn communicates with a bore 41 of the head. The bore 41 has a valve seat member 48 received therein and provided on its lower end with a valve seat 49, against which a valve disc 59 is adapted to seat. Connected with the disc 50 is a detent member having a detent groove 52 to cooperate with a detent pin 53. The pin 53 is spring urged, and thereby tends to engage in the detent groove when the two are aligned with each other.

The valve disc 5|] is provided with a stem 54 terminating in a knob 55. The bore 41 of the head H is in communication above the seat 49 with an exhaust tube 56, as shown in Figure 3. The tube 56 by means of a fitting 51 is connected with the cover plate C so as to exhaust fluid pressure and any foreign matter, such as lubricant from the pump cylinder l0, back into the drum D. Y

A stem 53 is slidable in a packing 59 of the head H and is adapted-to be contacted by the cap screw l9 when the piston P is adjacent its upper limit of movement. The stem 58 is adapted at its upper end to engage the detent member 5| and raise itfrom its lowered position to the raised position shown. A loading spring 69 is interposed between a collar 6| on the stem 58 and the detent member 5|. A spring 62 is provided to keep the packing 59 tight.

In Figure 5, I show a modified construction differing from Figure l in only the following respects: The valve disc 50 has a detent member 5|a provided with a pair of detent grooves 52 and 52a. Instead of using a manually operable stem 54 and a knob 55, the detent member 5|a and the disc 50 are provided with a stem 52a, which is slidable through the members 50 and 5|a. The stem 54a is formed as a reduced part of a stem 58a which takes the place of the stem 58 in Figure 1. The stem 54a at its upper end is provided with a plunger sleeve 63 slidable in a bore 64 of a valve seat fitting 48a. The spring 60 is still used and in addition to this spring a second one at 60a is interposed between the upper face of the disc 50 and the plunger sleeve 63.

The lower end of the stem 58a is provided with a guide washer 65 connected to the plunger by a cap screw 66. The head of the cap screw 66 is connected with one end of a flexible chain 61, the other end of which is connected with a similar cap screw |9a. With this arrangement the piston P is capable of moving the stem 58a downwardly, as in Figure 4, when the piston reaches its lower limit of movement and thereby renders the chain taut. The piston moves the stem upwardly when it reaches its upward limit of movement, a modified disc member |6a on the upper end of the piston thereupon engaging the washer 65 and the chain 61 in such position of the parts being collapsed within the disc Mia. The disc is of relatively deep cup shape to receive the collapsed chain.

Practical operation With reference to Figure 1:

With the parts in the position illustrated, the exhaust valve 50 is retained closed by the spring 60. Therefore the fluid pressure entering through the nozzle 38, instead of causing the Venturi passageway 3'! to act in its aspirating capacity, will be diverted and pass downward through the passageways 39 and 40 to the pump cylinder ID. This will result in forcing the piston P downwardly, thereby displacing fluid from under the piston through the space 3| and passageways 28, 29 and 30 to the hose 33, providing of course the control nozzle is openf The intake check valve 23 will prevent return of the fluid into the drum D and the outlet check valve 32 will be opened by the pressure of the fluid thereagainst.

After slight downward movement of the piston P, the shoulder 6| of the stem 58 will seat at its lower limit of movement but the spring 68 will still be pressing upwardly against the exhaust valve 50.

At the lower end of its stroke the piston P will be stopped by engagement of the flange of its lower cupped disc IS with an inturned stop flange 68. Subsequently in order to retract the piston P or cause it to move upwardly in the cylinder In, the knob 55 is manually engaged and pressed downwardly for opening the exhaust valve 50.

Thereupon fluid pressure in the cylinder l0 above the piston P is exhausted through the tube 56 to atmosphere within the drum D, which operation is followed by discharge of fluid pressure from the Venturi nozzle 38 through the Venturi passageway 31. The aspirator A will thereupon operate in its aspirating capacity for rarifying the space in the cylinder I0 above the piston P, thereby causing the piston to move upwardly and at the same time draw lubricant in through the intake check valve 23. Finally, as the piston approaches its upper limit of movement (shown in Figure 1), it will raise the stem 58, causing it to act as a thrust member for raising the exhaust valve 50 against the tendency of the detent pin 53 to retain the valve in its open position. When the valve is finally closed the cycle will be repeated.

With reference to Fig. 4: The piston P is shown in its lowered position. The stop flange 68 is omitted from the form shown in Figure 4, as the piston is connected through the chain 61 with the stem 58a and the shoulder 6| on the stem would thereby serve as a stop, although ordinarily the movement of the piston is checked before such stop position is reached due to exhaustion of the fluid pressure above the piston as soon as the exhaust valve 50 opens. The exhaust valve is retained open by the detent pin 53 engaging in the detent groove 52.

With the parts in the position shown, the aspirator A operates in its aspirating capacity for effecting movement of the piston P upwardly, as already described. Adjacent the top of the piston movement, the cupped disc E60. engages and raises the disc 65, thereby compressing the spring 60 and finally engaging the shoulder of the stem 5811 (indicated at 58b) with the lower end of the detent member cm. This shifts the detent member and the exhaust valve 50 to closed position, and the detent pin 53 then coacts with the detent groove 52a to retain it in such position. The spring 60 effects completion of the movement of the exhaust valve from one position to the other, once it is initiated by engagement of the shoulder 58b with the lower end of the detent member m. Similarly, in the reverse direction the spring 60a performs the same function as the spring 60. Thus the form of pump shown in Figure 4 automatically operates both on the upstroke and the downstroke as long as fluid pressure is supplied through the hose 45 to the aspirator A and the control nozzle for the fluid hose 33 is held open.

From the foregoing description of the means for accomplishing the results sought, it is apparent that I have devised a practical and efficient construction for carrying out the desired objects of the invention as regards a simple and economical unit of the character described, and while the foregoing represents two of the preferred forms of embodiment of the invention, I desire to reserve the right to make whatever changes or modifications may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A fluid dispenser pump comprising a pump cylinder, 9. piston in said cylinder, one end of said cylinder constituting a fluid pressure space, means for alternately rarifying and compressing the fluid pressure in said fluid pressure space comprising an aspirator connected with said fluid pressure space for operation from a fluid pressure. line, and means to divert the fluid pressure supplied to said aspirator into said fluid pressure space, said means being manually operable to one position and operable to its other position as a resultant of movement of said piston in one direction relative to said cylinder.

2. A fluid dispenser pump comprising a head, a. pump cylinder depending therefrom and having an open lower end a piston movable in said pump cylinder, a second cylinder surrounding said pump cylinder, a cap on the lower end of said second cylinder, an intake check valve in said cap, an outlet passageway in said head, an outlet check valve therein, the space between said cylinders communicating at its lower end with the open end of said pump cylinder and at its upper end with said passageway, an aspirator connected with said head for operation from a fluid pressure line, said aspirator having its Venturi intake communicating with the upper end of said pump cylinder and its Venturi outlet communicating with atmosphere for exhausting fluid pressure from said pump cylinder to move said piston upwardly relative thereto, and means to divert the fluid pressure supplied to said aspirator into said pump cylinder through the means which affords communication between said Venturi intake and said pump cylinder for forcing said piston downwardly relative thereto, said means effecting closure of said Venturi outlet with relation to atmosphere.

3. A fluid dispenser pump comprising a pump cylinder, a free piston in said pump cylinder, an aspirator for operation from a fluid pressure line, said aspirator having its Venturi intake commue nicating with one end of said cylinder and its Venturi outlet communicating with atmosphere for exhausting fluid pressure from said cylinder,-

means to divert the fluid pressure supplied to i said aspirator into said cylinder through the means of communication between said Venturi intake and said cylinder, detent means to retain said means to divert fluid pressure in effective position, and detent means to retainit'in ineffective position, said means to divert fluid pressure being operatively connected with said piston to be rendered effective thereby at one limit of its movement and ineffective thereby at the other limit of its movement.

4. A fluid dispenser pump comprising a head, a pump cylinder depending therefrom and having an open lower end, a free piston in said pump cylinder, a second cylinder surrounding and spaced from said pump cylinder, acap on the lower end of said second cylinder, an intake check valve in said cap, an outlet passageway in said head, an outlet check valve therein, the space between said cylinders communicating at its lower end with the open end of said pump cylinder and at its upper end with said outlet passageway, an aspirator connected with said head for operation from a fluid pressure line, said aspirator communicating with the upper end of said pump cylinder for exhausting fluid pressure therefrom and thereby creating suction therein to move said piston upwardly relative thereto, and means to divert the fluid pressure supplied to said aspirator into said pump cylinder for forcing said piston downwardly relative thereto and thereby displacing fluid from the lower end thereof and through said space between said cylinders to said outlet check valve and passageway, said last means comprising a valve for communicating the outlet of said aspirator with atmosphere operatively associated with said piston to be rendered effective thereby at its upper limit of movement and inefiective thereby at its lower limit of movement.

5. In a fluid dispensing pump, a cylinder adapted to receive fluid in one end thereof, a piston in said cylinder to effect movement of fluid into the cylinder when the piston moves in one direction and to effect discharge of fluid from the cylinder when the piston moves in the other direction, means to efiect movement of said piston in the first mentioned direction comprising an aspirator having a passageway connected with the other end of said cylinder, and means to effect movement of said piston in the second mentioned direction comprising a valve to close the discharge port of said aspirator, said valve being manually openable and said piston being operatively associated with said valve to close it upon movement of said piston to a predetermined position adjacent said other'end of said cylinder.

6. In a fluid dispensing pump, a cylinder adapted to receive fluid in one end thereof, a piston in'said cylinder to effect movement of fluid into the cylinder when the piston moves in one direction and to effect discharge of fluid from the cylinder when the piston moves in the other direction, means to efiect movement of said piston in the first mentioned direction comprising an aspirator having an intake passageway connected with the other end of said cylinder, means to effect movement of said piston in the second mentioned direction comprising a valve to close the discharge port of said aspirator and thereby effect direct discharge of actuating fluid to said other end of said cylinder through said intake passageway, means to automatically operate said valve comprising detent means to retain it in either an open or a closed position, and operative connections between said piston and said valve comprising a part of the piston to engage the valve when the piston approaches the end of its stroke in one direction and a flexible and collapsible connection between the piston and the valve which becomes taut to pull on the valve as the piston approaches the end of its stroke in the other direction.

'7. A fluid dispenser comprising a cylinder adapted to receive fluid in one end thereof, a free piston in said cylinder to effect movement of fluid into and out of said one end of said cylinder, and means to effect movement of said piston comprising an aspirator having an inlet, an outlet, and a passage intermediate said inlet and outlet, said passage being connected with the other end of said cylinder, and a control valve located between said outlet and atmosphere to selectively open or close said outlet, said valve being operatively associated with said piston whereby to close it upon said piston reaching one limit position and to open said valve upon said piston reaching its opposite limit position.

8. A fluid dispenser comprising a cylinder adapted to receive fluid in one end thereof, a free piston in said cylinder to effect movement of fluid into and out of said one end of said cylinder, and means to efiect movement of said piston in said cylinder comprising an aspirator having an inlet, an outlet, and a passage intermediate said inlet and outlet, said passage being connected with the other end of said cylinder, and a control valve to selectively open and close the outlet of said aspirator, said control valve being located between said aspirator outlet and atmosphere.

9. In a fluid dispensing pump, a pump cylinder, a piston therein, said pump cylinder being adapted to receive fluid in its lower end when said piston is moved upwardly therein and to discharge such fluid therefrom when the piston is moved downwardly therein, an intake check valve at the lower end of said pump cylinder, a discharge passageway communicating with said cylinder, a discharge passageway communicating with said cylinder above said intake check valve, a second and larger cylinder surrounding said pump cylinder, a head for said cylinders and having a cavity, an outlet check valve therein, said cavity on the outlet side of said outlet check valve being adapted for connection with a discharge hose, the space between the cylinders and said cavity constituting a discharge passageway, an aspirator connected with said head and communicating with the upper end of said pump cylinder, means to close said aspirator with respect to atmosphere to effect downward movement of said piston to displace lubricant between it and said inlet check valve into said passageway, said last means when open permitting said aspirator to operate in its aspirating capacity to effect upward movement of said piston relative to said pump cylinder, said last means being manually operable to open position, and means of cooperation between said piston and said last means to close the last means when the piston reaches substantially its upward limit of movement.

10. In a fluid dispensing pump, a pump cylinder, a piston mounted therein for reciprocatory movement, said pump cylinder being adapted to receive fluid in its lower end when said piston is moved upwardly therein and to discharge such fluid therefrom when the piston is moved downwardly therein, an intake check valve at the lower end of said pump cylinder, a discharge passageway communicating with said cylinder, 3, discharge passageway communicating with said cylinder above said intake check valve, a second and larger cylinder surrounding said pump cylinder, a head for said cylinders and having a cavity, an outlet check valve therein, said cavity on the outlet side of said outlet check valve being adapted for connection with a discharge hose, the space between the cylinders and said cavity constituting a discharge passageway, an aspirator connected with said head and having its Venturi intake communicating with the upper end of said pump cylinder, means to close the outlet of said aspirator Venturi with respect to atmosphere to effect downward movement of said piston to displace fluid between it and said inlet check valve into said passageway, said last means when open permitting said aspirator to operate in its aspirating capacity to effect upward movement of said piston relative to said pump cylinder, said last means being opened and closed by said piston at opposite limits of its reciprocatory movement.

11. A fluid dispenser pump comprising a cylinder adapted to receive fluid in one end thereof, a free piston in said cylinder to efiect movement of the fluid into and out of said end of said cylinder, and means to move said piston in one direction comprising an aspirator having its Venturi intake connected with the other end of said cylinder, said aspirator having an exhaust passageway, a valve for closing said exhaust passageway with respect to atmosphere to cause diversion of the compressed air supplied to the aspirator into said other end of said cylinder through the connection between said Venturi intake and said other end of said cylinder to move said piston in an opposite direction, and an operative connection between said piston and said valve to open the valve at the end of the movement of the piston in one direction and to close it at the end of the movement of the piston in the opposite direction.

12. A fluid dispenser pump comprising a cylinder adapted to receive fluid in one end thereof, a free piston in said cylinder to effect movement of the fluid into and out of said end of said cylinder, and means to move said piston in one direction comprising an aspirator connection with the other end of said cylinder, said aspirator having an exhaust passageway, a valve for closing said exhaust passageway to cause diversion of the compressed air supplied to the aspirator into said other end of said cylinder to move said piston in an opposite direction, and an operative connection between said piston and said valve to open the valve at the end of the movement of the piston in one direction and to close it at the end of the movement of the piston in the opposite direction, said operative connection including a collapsible connection and spring means adapted to preload said valve prior to its movement from one position to the other, the spring means thereby eifecting completion of such movement of the valve with respect to the detent means after such movement is initiated by the piston.

13. A fluid dispenser comprising a pump cylinder, a piston therein, said pump cylinder being adapted to receive fluid in its lower end when said piston is moved upwardly therein and to discharge such fluid therefrom when the piston is moved downwardly therein, a second and larger cylinder surrounding said pump cylinder, a head for said cylinders having a cavity, the space between the cylinders and said cavity constituting a fluid discharge passageway, an aspirator connected with said head and communicating with the upper end of said pump cylinder, and means to at times close said aspirator with respect to atmosphere, said means being manually operable in one direction and operable by movement of said piston in the other direction.

14. In a fluid dispensing pump, a pump cylinder, a piston therein, said pump cylinder being adapted to receive fluid in its lower end when said piston is moved upwardly therein and to discharge such fluid therefrom when the piston is moved downwardly therein, an intake check valve at the lower end of said pump cylinder, a discharge passageway communicating with said cylinder above said intake check valve, an aspirator connected with said head and communicating with the upper end of said pump cylinder, means operable by said piston at the upper end of its stroke to close said aspirator with respect to atmosphere to efiect downward movement of said piston to displace lubricant between it and said inlet check valve into said passageway, said last means when open permitting said aspirator to operate in its aspirating capacity to effect upward movement of said piston relative to said pump cylinder, and means to manually open said last means.

15. A fluid dispenser pump comprising a pump cylinder, a piston freely movable therein and adapted upon movement in one direction to receive fluid into one end of said cylinder and upon movement in the opposite direction to expel the received fluid therefrom, fluid pressure operated means to normally rarify the fluid pressure in the other end of said cylinder and thereby effect movement of said piston toward one limit of its movement by the pressure of atmospheric air on the lubricant, said fluid pressure operated means including a normally open exhaust valve which, when closed, effects charging of said other end of said cylinder with fluid pressure and thereby movement of said piston toward the other limit of its movement, means operable by said piston to move said exhaust valve to one of its positions, and manual means to move it to its other position.

IVER B. NIELSEN. 

